The Pierces Low Ground tract, located in Bryants Corner near Emporia, comprises 2,818 acres that have been permanently protected through the partnership of the Lee family, the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, Rock Springs Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, the US Endowment for Forestry, Enviva, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and Beechtree Group.
The entirety of the property is classified by ConserveVirginia as valuable land to preserve. The tract specifically supports ConserveVirginia’s goal to protect agriculture and forestry, natural habitat and ecosystem diversity, floodplains and flooding resilience, and water quality.
The property supports local employment and benefits the local economy through farming and forestry. The land is crucial for water quality, with riparian protection zones to reduce pollution in the Meherrin River, an impaired water body. The tract also hosts significant wildlife, including threatened bird species and
a scenic riverfront with old-growth cypress-tupelo swamp trees.
Management plans for both forestry and agriculture emphasize best practices for environmental protection. The property contains important archaeological sites, with restrictions to protect these areas. Conservation of this tract contributes significantly to local ecology, economy, and cultural heritage.
